Thank You, Masked Men and Women

More than 200 guests enjoyed an old-fashioned Halloween party complete with magic tricks and gourmet treats when STOP-GAP staged its annual gala dinner Friday.

Party-goers--who had their choice of dressing in black-tie, as children or in a mask or cape--showed up at the Sutton Place Hotel in Newport Beach wearing everything from ball caps and sneakers to tuxedos. The $175-per-person gala netted more than $80,000 for STOP-GAP, a Santa Ana-based nonprofit theater company that stages educational and therapeutic drama workshops.

Where’s Waldo?

As theater lovers, supporters of STOP-GAP enjoy dressing up, so most guests showed up in costume. There were prom queens, kids with skateboards and clowns sporting funny noses and rainbow-colored wigs.

Terry and Sharon Hartshorn, the evening’s honorary chairmen, dressed up as Waldo of the popular “Where’s Waldo?” children’s books. Both wore matching red and white striped polo shirts, elves’ hats and glasses with 2-inch-thick lenses.

“My wife came up with the idea,” Terry Hartshorn said. “One of our kids loved the ‘Where’s Waldo?’ books.”

Bill Wood, STOP-GAP’s board president, dressed as his mischievous inner child. He sported a beanie, shorts, mismatched tennis shoes and a bandage on one knee. “I got an ‘owie,’ ” he quipped. “I fall down playing baseball.”

Event chairwoman Sophia Hall Cripe had no trouble finding her costume--a gold flapper dress. “We have a costume closet at home,” said Cripe, who attended with her husband, Larry. “I love to dress up.”

Witching Hour

Party organizers made this a traditional Halloween party, entertaining guests with fortunetellers and magicians throughout the night. STOP-GAP co-founder and executive director Don Laffoon dressed as a magician with a fake rabbit stuffed into his top hat. He performed magic tricks for the crowd.

During the reception, guests bid on items in a silent auction, then adjourned to a ballroom filled with purple, black and white balloons. Tables were decorated with pumpkins and flying witches.

Among the treats served for dinner: black bean soup with pumpkin, Cajun-style prime rib and chocolate mousse in a pastry puff with apricot and black currant coulis.

After the meal, party-goers heard from some of the people STOP-GAP has helped through its workshops, including a teenage former drug addict and a 91-year-old. All made a magic wish that STOP-GAP programs would reach more people in need. At the end of the program, guests received wands to help make the wishes come true.

STOP-GAP actors perform vignettes dealing with issues such as substance abuse, date rape, AIDS, conflict resolution and decision-making. Workshops are held at shelters for abused women and children, hospitals, schools, senior centers and other facilities throughout Orange and Los Angeles counties. In partner-

ship with the American Cancer Society, STOP-GAP recently launched a workshop on breast cancer called “Every Part of Me.”

Among the (masked) faces in the crowd: Victoria Bryan, STOP-GAP managing director and co-founder; Alan and Teri Hoops; Chris and Debbie Sheldon; Dave and Chris Holst; Roger and Pam Bass; David and Susan Stary-Sheets; Mary MacIntyre and Harry Hamilton; Jay and Erica Amestoy; Peter and JoAnne Fiek; Ron and Kathy Merriman; Marie Moreno; Les and Lisa Fujimoto; and Doug and Lorraine Mazza.